Spizzzarko

No wonder it's gay...

That's never cool... I had a hard cut away on a jav once. It was spun up (the main) pretty good, and spiralling down rapidly. It took some effort to get the cables pulled, but I got over it.

Hmmmm this is strange. I have never heard of this happening on racers. Maybe yall should buy racers instead of wings...

What ever you are used to is going to be faster. An RDS will add some time to your packing. I have said once you go RDS you will never go back, but I mean that for people who will benefit from the removable slider the most. If you are doing working jumps, or are just a fun jumper then an RDS / Remoavable slider (they are pretty much one in the same) is not really for you. You can reason all you want and tell yourself that you need an RDS, but in all actuallity you dont. People got along just fine without them for the 15 or so years before they became mainstream. The problem with RDS's is if you get in a hurry and misrig the damn thing then you are in for a world of hurt. The more options and contraptions you ad to your opening sequence the more that can go wrong. These RDS's are NOT proven technology. Also it is not WAAAAAAY faster to real in a bag and pilot chute and slider and all that shit. Honestly the only reason I have not gone back to the stock slider is because most of my jumps are the hop and pops. I do AFF with the removable slider, but I just do not want to change back and forth several times a day. Also you will want to sew pockets on your jump suits instead of stuffing it because if you stuff it down your shirt you look like you have tits. Take a gander at the picture of Chuck owen doing the switchblade tick jockey (who the fuck came up with the term tick jockey?) on canopy piloting.com. He is sporting a pair of saggy D's in that pic.

I don't think Joe Bennet padded his log book! hahaha

Fly a pettern every time. Try to get to the same spot over the ground at the same altitude every jump. This takes out quite a few variables and allows you to focus on your accuracy more. You will then find out that you will be able to hit a really small target every time.

Look dude, I think you might be missing the actual point of an RDS. It is to remove drag for competition swooping. True, taking the bag and pilot chute off is only a small portion of the actual system, but it adds quite a few complexities to the opening process. If I were you I would take the money that you are going to use in an RDS and get a few more jumps. You only have 350 jumps, are jumping a crossfire 99 at 1.6 and are a young dude fueled by testosterone. I know where you are coming from I was there, and when I look back I am amazed that I survived the stupid shit that I did back then. I just turned 29 yesterday, and I have seen a lot in this sport, but I realize that I don't know a damn thing compared to the experts like Ian Drennan, Stuporsue I mean SuperStu, Joe Bennet, Mel, Paul Russow, and countless others. Take you time in this sport dude, because if you go blazing through it you will either get burned out or you will die. Forget about an RDS right now, and use the money to buy jump tickets. You can purchase all the high speed low drag shit out there, but none of it will help you gain experience, and experience is what wins competitions and keeps you part of the living. Good luck out there dude, and please be carefull.

My openings have been at terminal. I also like to be at terminal on my velocity when I open too.

hahahahaaaaaa He can probably switch hands and gain a stroke

Us older fatter guys have the competitive edge of many more years of 12oz curls and rubbing it to create stronger and more toned arm muscles.

I'm sure the sail has something to do with it. This canopy really glides out so long spots are not difficulties. The velocity resonds to deep brakes best for long spots, but I feel the JVX likes rear risers better than deep brakes. Jim Slaton says that the sail holds it shape better, and from the kiting I have done with it right next to the 90 velo it does seem to hold it's shape better than the velocity. You can learn a lot from kitting canopies and people should do it more often in my opinion. Neither the JVX or velo are that much better than the other when we have been kitting it. The both quit flying about the same time when the wind would die, but I don't think much of anything could be kitted in the winds we had when we were kitting (low and variable)

I only have two jumps of it, and three JVX jumps total. I have only flown the all sail version so I cannot really comment much on the ZP version. In the past we have laid a 96 all sail JVX on top of a 96 ZP velocity. The JVX had about 6-7 more inches of span but a little less chord compared to the velocity. The line lengths were similar, if not about an inch off. When kiting my 89 JVX next to a 90 veloctiy, they look similar in size, but the velocity is noticably fatter from bottom skin to top skin. I do not know what the "Aero" word for that measurement is so I will call it "Da Girth". I have not laid the 89 on top of the 90 yet. I know these are not scientific methods, but I'm just telling yuo all what I have done and seen. I have no real allegiance to one canopy or another (except in reserves and it is PD all the way baby!) I have put three jumps on Ian Drennans old red and white 90 velocity. It was a nice canopy to fly and if I recall correctly it had stock length blue lines. I loaded it around 2.5 and that is about what I load the 89 JVX at. I remember the 90 not shutting down as well as the 89 JVX at that loading, but the jumps I did on the 90 was in summer and the jumps I'm putting on the 89 is in colder air so the DA may be different. As far as needing more loading on the JVX 89 at 2.516 or so I don't really know... I'm sorry I cannot be more help right now, but I don't want to put a bunch of stuff out there on the internet that may create a false image of the canopy. Polarbear here on line has about 70 jumps on JVX's now, and he is an unbiased dude. He seems to like his JVX loaded around 2.6 or higher. I'm looking for an all around performer as I want to be able to use this canopy for work jumps. I do not have the money, time or skill to own three or four different canopies for different loadings for different events. It's not like I can get a golf bag of canopies. From my limited experience the JVX at 2.5 is a nice flyer. I can get my velocity 96 to go further right now, but that is because I know the velocity pretty well, and am used to it. Don't think that 2.5 loading on the JVx is something to not be respected. I'm sure it can put you in a bad spot in a hurry if you make a mistake and there are some pretty experienced dudes who have gotten humbled by the canopy, Duane Hall, Greg Chopiuck, Steve Armstrong, ect ect ect. These dudes are really freaking good pilots and they have a healthy respect for the JVX. So I am not advocating that you HAVE to load a JVX to do well on it, and that a loading of 2.5 and above is no big deal on the JVX. I'm sure it is a very big deal, but the sail JVX seems to handle the higher loading a little better than a velocity of equal or similar size. Different canopies really shine at different loadings so actually comparing the JVX to a velocity is kind of like comparing apples to oranges I guess. In the future I plan on doing a comparison of the JVX all sail 89 to the Velocity 90. The velo 90 that I will use will have RDS and stock length blue lines from Mel (He has really good customer service if you need any thing done and I cannot recomend his products enough). The JVX will have stock (not competition trim) HMA lines and an RDS. This is as close of a control as I can get in this experiment. If PD wanted to make me a 90 velo out of sail with HMA I would use that if I could, but Iseriously doubt they would do that (just imagine a sail velo It would sure be a ballsy canopy!). I'm sorry if I havn't answered your question, but I have given you the info that I have, and the truth is I just do not have enough jumps or experience on a JVX to really form an opinion either way. I know Jim will try and sell you one, but he will also give you more information than I have about the canopy. So grab the salt shaker and call him up. Paul Russow (proswooper here on dz.com) jumps all sail JVX's, and he knows his stuff. He is also a nice guy (even though he is fat and looks gay) so ask him for info, and he can help you out. I regret not having gotten more info from him before I purchased this canopy, but I do not think that I have purchased a bad size or shitty model of the canopy yet. Also realize that I do not have teh luxury of being able to wear weight in competition so proper sizing of a canopy is a little more imperative for me than others, otherwise it gets really expensive buying and selling canopies. It is a shame that there is so little info about this canopy out there, but it is a new design and there are really not that many people jumping them yet if you compare it to the velocity. I'll let you all know what I find out as I jump it, but realize these are my opinions of the canopy. I will try to be as unbiased as possible. I look forward to hearing what other peoples experiences of the JVX are too.

I packed the JVX up just like my velocity and it opened nicely. I know there is some consensus about folding the outside nose into the center and rolling the tail quite a bit, but I found with my velocity's, FX, and VX in past that the more you do to the pack job the more it screws with the openings. I mainly flake the material out between the line groups, quarter the slider and pull some out in front of the nose, firmly place the slider against the slider stops, and roll the tail two or three times. I keep control of the tail roll throughout the pack job as much as I can, but once it gets into the bag I'm sure it comes undone anyway. My one jump yesterday on this type of pack job had a nice opening. It didn't really snivel that long nor want to fly to much off heading. When it does want to fly off heading I reach up and steer it with rear risers throughout the opening (I do this with my velocity too). I was at terminal when I deployed, and I have been that way on both of my jumps on the canopy, and the opening was really nice. Not as long snivel wise as my velocity, but not hard or violent either. I kind of like it because it has less time to fly off heading or spin up. My velocity really takes a long time to open and it really seaks around. All in all the JVX openings so far have been a non issue. I can really see that this canopy likes harness input more so than risers. The risers seem to build up quite a bit faster than the velocity. I am used to a harness with a long chest strap and 24" risers and removable slider. I have been jumping the stock slider for the past two jumps and I do not have a slider keeper, so the slider keeps flying up. Also the harness that I jumped yesterday had short risers and a short chest strap. I have read somewhere that it is recomended that you do not loosen the chest strap or use longer risers on this canopy. I really didn't like that configuration because it feels as if the risers are right there on your ears. As soon as my new harness comes in I will probably loosen the chest strap all the way and go back to 24" risers. Of course the slider will not be a permanent fixture either. I have not pulled the bag and pilot chute off yet, but it really seems as if the canopy wants that stuff gone. I think my overall impression so far of the JVX is that it wants to fly far, and be loaded. It also seems that the more spped you have with the thing the better. I will have to work on harness turn rates and keeping th ecanopy in a dive, as the pressure builds up and I am used to being able to muscle my velocity around and keep it in a dive for quite a while.

WHY HAVE YOU NOT CALLED MEL? You sore neck is due to you not getting your canopy relined. Do not hesitate any longer. Your neck will appreciate it.

Any type of lines can be installed on any canopy. You just have to find the appropriate person to do it. Mel at skyworks rigging is the appropriate person. Give him a call and I gaurantee that your life will be better for it.

are your colors ble and black? hahahahaaaaaa Miami... Eloy after Christmas... we must make this happen. call me you douche.

Google "axis of weasel" or the weasel RC slope glider.

Sandy at RI doens't make a bad product at all. I really was impressed with the new talon rigs. The Voodo is pretty comfy too. I like the new talons if they are smaller. I think they look better with really tiny canopies in them. hahaha I havn't had a good chance to take a good look at an Icon yet, but I'm sure it is a good rig too.

Cool man. The spring would be a great time for me. I would love to get out of the Colorado spring by then as you know it is always shitty here then. I'm thinking Elsinore baby! The In-N-Out is close, and the weather was good that one time we were there before in the spring. Maybe we can catch more than the sunset load this time. NO RENTAL CARS! Yea you had better make tech this year, and I'm sure you will have a line number of about 3 or 4 hahahahahaa Staff Seargent of the Air Force is not as prestigious of a position as Chief Master Seargent of the Air Force. hahahahahaaaaa Ohhh man I am a funny guy hahahhaaaa

Not a problem. I hate it when people bash gear or products because it is the popular thing to do. Research the gear, and make your own opinion. I do not jump a racer, but I think it is a perfectly functional rig, and a lot of people are steered away from it because it is not that popular. I will have to admit that it is one of the MOST comfortable rigs I have ever tried on.

1. RACER 2. Jav 3. Mirage 4. Infinity 5. Vector 6. Wings That is a list of some of the more popular ones. You don't have to spend a grip of money to get a good rig. Just ask the rigger at your DZ or some of the more experienced jumpmasters. Usually DZO's will try to make money off of you by selling gear. When it comes to gear the choices pretty much are just a matter of personal preferance. It sucks being a new jumper because everyone is telling you what they would buy and what they like, but you need to try on as many different rigs as possible and then make your decision. Go to a bigger DZ and ask the jumpers there about their rigs. You will get a lot of different responses but you may find out a thing or two that you like or do not like. Good luck.

Oh fuck yea!!! Double Doubles for days! hahaha You can study for tech while you are down range too! hahahaa Do you have any idea of your deployment dates?

What's happening dude? Read the Polllsssss thread in this forum about racers. The gear police are heavy handed in this forum. For the most part there is no blatantly bad gear out there that is still being manufactured. Be carefull of the older stuff, but every one here has an opinion and they are more than willing to let you know it. Be carefull out there.

*******YAWN******** Asking the general populous what rig you should buy is like asking everyone at the bar what chick you should take home. 75% are going to tell you to take the 18 year old Paris Hilton look alike home. Little do they know that she will be shitty in the sack, and most of your buddies will not believe that she stooped so low as to go home with your mangey ass. 20% are going to tell you to take home the average looking girl. She will be ok, but will be kind of clingy and keep calling you later on. The smart 5% are going to tell you to take the ugly girl home. She will probably rock your world, and make you breakfast the next morning. Just like rigs they all serve the same purpose, but it is just a matter of personal preference. The new racers are good, but just not that popular. Some people may tell you that a racer is a shitty rig to freefly in, or to do crew with. These same people may also tell you that riggers do not like racers. Those people need to spend less time spouting off at the keyboard with their "opinions" and more time actually researching gear. Modern Racers stay shut. Look at the older Chronicle series of free fly video's (circa late 90's) and you will see many of the "Pioneers" of freeflying jumping racers. You will also notice some other more "Freefly Friendly" rigs having risers flopping around all over the place. Hmmmmm... Score one for the racer. Any rig can be crew unfriendly, but I hardly think that you are going to be jumping a poptop rig that has the crown extended enough to catch a line. If your pop top is creeping up enought to catch a line then you get a rigger to fix it. That just falls under general maintenance and upkeep, and having someone more experienced in the gear than yourself look it over everyonce in awhile is not a bad thing. Speaking of general upkeep and maintenance, any rigger worth their salt should be able to pack racers. Is it not true that when you get your riggers rating that you are cleared to pack reserves? I never had to get a Racer endorsement when I got my rating... Do you know why? Because there is no such thing. If your rigger decides to not pack your racer or charge you extra then you really need to be considering hiring another rigger. That shows me a lack of knowledge, skill, and confidence in a riggers own mind. There are some really amazing riggers out there, and the good ones will do Racers. Now you wouldn't want to trust your last chance to a shitty rigger would you? How you doing Mike?

In my last post I said something so profound that I'm not quite sure as to what it is I said.